Viral: Serena Williams draws backlash over weight-loss ad with husband’s telehealth firm

Serena Williams has been a tennis legend to generations of women in families. The sports star who began her professional career in 1995 has made young women dream about becoming whoever they want, defeating all the struggles in their path and loving themselves for who they transformed into while on that journey.Thus, imagine people's surprise when Williams admitted that she had been using GLP-1 medications for weight loss, losing 31 lbs. The 43-year-old recently became the brand ambassador of the healthcare company Ro, through which she got her GLP-1 treatment.The partnership marks a high boost for the booming weight loss sector with Williams herself advertising for the injectables. Additionally, it also marks a family endeavour with her husband Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder, being an early investor in the company and having served on it's board since 2018.“They say GLP-1s for weight loss is a shortcut. It’s not, it’s science,” said Williams in a recent commercial for Ro. “I trained at the highest level, ate a clean diet, pushed myself, and still, after having kids, my body just wouldn’t respond,” she said in a statement. I realized it wasn’t about willpower; it was biological. My body needed the GLP-1 and clinical support.”While the move might look like a good financial endeavour, the tennis star's fans and followers don't seem happy with it and have been vocal about it on social media.

People have been asking for influential figures such as Williams to also be transparent about the side effects and long-term risks of using weight loss injectables. The feminine icon who was earlier viewed as one pushing societal expectations to make space for herself as she is, is now being considered the poster girl for giving in to societal beauty standards.

Netizens react to Serena Williams' weight loss ad

Social media users have been condemning Williams' propagation and promotion of weight loss drugs, questioning her stance on female bodies and image."the most horrible and disappointing ad showed up on my tiktok feed yesterday girl what are you doing??? “how I *finally* lost weight after having kids”??? all the young women who look up to serena williams who are gonna see this and feel some way about their body makes me sick" wrote a person on X."I’m not anti-Ozempic but this is dystopian as fuck 😭😭 One of the top athletes in the world, muscular powerhouse Serena Williams advertising weight loss drugs… yeeeeeeah bleak af."

added another.One X user shared images of Williams playing tennis matches throughout the years, writing, "anyone can do what they want with their body but Serena Williams actually SELLING weight loss drugs to become super skinny after having done so much with THIS body, it does feel bad. very bad"People like Williams who are influential figures across the globe, carry the weight of their words. What they propagate and promote is considered to be realistic advice for their followers. While people hold absolutely no iota of commenting space about her personal decisions for weight loss, Williams' promoting the injectable puts her on a global platform promoting them as an ideal way without talking about their repercussions.See more: Weight Loss Tips to Lose Inches of Stubborn Belly Fat in a Healthy Way